Ash stared at him. His eyes glowed, and she could tell he’d given this serious thought and made his decision. “It might not hurt having a bounty hunter at my beck and call,” she offered, and her heart flipped when the side of his mouth curved into a dangerous-looking smile.
“Beck and call, eh?” Something darkened in his eyes and what ever silent promise he made her, she felt her body respond with a craving that made it almost impossible to eat. “Eat your food, my dear, and I’ll show you what is at your beck and call.”
Ashley almost choked and took a quick drink of her wine. Her heart swelled as the realization hit her that Chase wouldn’t be leaving as much. If he meant what he said, there were steps he would need to take to license himself and then he’d have to set up an office. She ate the incredible meal, enjoyed his company, and felt more at home than she had anywhere she’d been in years.
When she picked up her plate and reached for his after dinner, Chase stopped her. “We’ll worry about these later,” he told her, taking her hand and guiding her around the table and into his living room.
A large fireplace was empty and she imagined what it would be like in the dead of winter, cuddling up with him while a fire raged. Chase pulled her down on him and reclined on his black leather couch. Before she could relax he’d pulled the zipper down her back, causing her dress to sag, held up by the one spaghetti strap.
Chase focused on it, lifting it with his fingers and toying with it while he tortured her shoulder with his slight touch. “Did you ever get a confession out of your ex?” he asked, his voice a gruff whisper.
“Actually, I didn’t. One of the other detectives, Charlie Madison, interrogated him. Danny told him marriage was until death, and he was sick and tired of women entering his life and then sauntering out. But they were still alive, chasing after other men.”
“Sounds like he cracked.”
“I was stupid never to notice it.”
“You weren’t paying attention to him.”
He was right. Once her divorce was final she’d moved on with her life, not giving Danny a second thought. She didn’t blame herself. But she hated thinking there had been so many clues in front of her and she’d taken so long to piece them together. Too many young women had died while the evidence was right in front of her.
“I should have killed the bastard when I saw him with you on the floor.”
“He wasn’t able to get me to drink anything. That was something about Danny that never appealed to me, his lack of aggressiveness. I didn’t realize it until I was lying on the floor, but when I attacked, verbally and physically, he balked.”
Chase flipped her over him, and she landed on her back on the couch, so stunned by his quick actions she wasn’t able to stop him from hiking up her dress and discovering she wasn’t wearing underwear. Immediately he slid his fingers inside her soaked pussy.
“There’s such a thing as too aggressive,” she teased.
“Not with you, my dear,” he growled, squeezing her breast while thrusting his fingers deep inside her. “Fight back all you want. I know how it turns you on.”
She made a face at him, unable to argue. He was right. His dominating nature got her so hot she felt him pushing her to the edge as he finger-fucked her. But when his mouth covered hers, branding her with a kiss so hot and sensual, there was no holding on. Ashley tumbled over the edge, the pressure exploding inside her as she cried into his mouth.
He wasn’t wearing boots this time and ha
d his jeans off in a matter of minutes. She dragged his shirt over his head, loving how his dark hair tangled around his face as he stared at her with a look so intense the swelling he’d released inside her built again with record speed.
“Stay with me,” he growled, kissing her again and then entering her.
She didn’t know if he meant tonight, or longer, but didn’t care. Her answer would be the same either way. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she lifted her legs, encouraging him deeper, and enjoyed the hell out of their lovemaking.
“I’ll stay with you,” she whispered, her vision blurring when she tried focusing on his smoldering gaze.
“And love me.”
Her heart exploded in her chest at the same time her orgasm ripped through her. “I love you,” she told him, and believed she loved for the first time in her life. And she prayed this time it would be until death.